To qualify for specific roles, CBSA agents must be bi-lingual in English and French. Do you have any special linguistic skills to mention?
CBSA, as a whole, doesn't require all applicants to be bi-lingual. However, if you want consideration for bilingual opportunities, these positions require a working knowledge of Canada's official languages. Also, CBSA reassesses your language skills every five years. You must be able to speak, read, and write in both English and French at a designated level.
If you have additional language skills, make sure to include details on your resume. Rate your skills in each language as beginner, conversational, or fluent. If you are interested in growing into those positions, express your enthusiasm and willingness to learn another language if you don't yet possess this skill.
"I am fluent in English and am proactively learning French, rating myself as a beginner. I will continue to teach myself French through the interview and hiring process, ensuring that I have a leg up when it comes to applying for bi-lingual roles in the future."
Share your skill level. Express you have a genuine interest or are open to learning more languages. Make sure to communicate your answer as clearly and concisely as possible. Avoid using speech crutch words, such as "Like," "um," "you know," "so on and so forth," "and," "well," "but," "so," "ah," "er," "literally," "actually," and "basically."
Community answers are written by other candidates practicing this set. Reading how others frame the same question is one of the fastest ways to sharpen your own.
Anonymous Answer
I speak beginner's level French, but I would like to learn if the opportunity arises. I also know other languages that might help since Canada is a multicultural country. I speak Urdu and Punjabi. It is a goal of mine to expand my knowledge of French to be able to converse, if necessary.
Rachelle's Feedback
Fantastic! You are already skilled linguistically, and Urdu and Punjabi will be highly beneficial as a CBSA agent.
